Daesh leader Al Baghdadi seriously injured in airstrike: Report

Daesh leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi has been seriously wounded in an air strike in western Iraq, the Guardian reported, quoting sources with connections to the militant group.
The report said Baghdadi suffered serious injuries during an attack by the US-led coalition in March, and the injuries were life-threatening at first, but he has made a slow recovery. Guardian reported that Baghdadi’s injury led to urgent meetings of the group leaders, who even made plans to name a new leader.
The report said a western diplomat and an Iraqi adviser confirmed that the strike took place on March 18 in the Al Baaj a district of Nineveh, close to the Syrian border. It quoted the diplomat as saying that the attack targeted local Daesh leaders and killed three men.
Baghdadi had at least one earlier brush with death when US jets attacked a two-car convoy on the outskirts of Mosul on 14 December. His close aide Auf Abdul Rahman Al Efery was killed when a rocket fired from a war plane hit one of the cars. Baghdadi was believed to be in the second car, which was not hit.
The report also said Baghdadi is no more controlling the day-to-day affairs of Daesh, which is facing a strong opposition from Shia militias on the land and US coalition airstrikes.

• MENA